Last year, the Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's transition from a winger into a temporary central midfielder bore comparisons to a young Steven Gerrard, according to enthusiastic Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

There is little doubting that Oxlade-Chamberlain, an exciting 21-year-old, has a tremendous upside and demonstrated his star potential at the tail-end of last season as he was a clear goal-scoring and assist-providing threat.

However, a knee injury curtailed the climax of his and Arsenal's campaign - but the hope that he develops from an elite-level prospect into an elite-level senior star remains.

Earlier today, at a press conference in North London, Wenger gave Oxlade hope that he could be nurtured into a player akin to Manchester United icon David Beckham or even Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane.

"I enjoy playing in central midfield but I'll play where the boss asks me to play," commented the youngster, to which Wenger replied: "Beckham and Zidane played on the flanks and they turned out to be world-class players. Alex can be the same."